OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of infliximab dose escalation in incomplete responders in a randomised controlled trial. METHODS 141 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with infliximab for 12 months (3 mg/kg; intervals 0, 2, 6 and then 8 weeks) who responded to the drug (disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) decrease >1.2) but who were not in remission (DAS28 >2.6) were enrolled...

Objectives The aim was to evaluate patient self-assessment of RA disease activity in terms of Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID) scores via a Web-based smartphone application (WebApp). Methods In this prospective, multicentre study, adult RA patients were examined by a rheumatologist at baseline and after 3 months. Patients were asked to complete WebApp questionnaires weekly. Th...

We investigated the frequency of remission according to the disease activity score (DAS28) definition, modified American Rheumatology Association (ARA) criteria, and the frequency of an achievement of a functional status above defined thresholds ('functional remission', 'physical independence') in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with either biologics or conventional DMARDs. We used t...

BACKGROUND Remission is the established goal in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. Although originally defined by a disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) <2.6, more stringent criteria may imply the absence of disease activity. The 2011 ACR/EULAR remission criteria provide the newest and most stringent definition of remission. OBJECTIVES To evaluate post hoc the remission by ACR/EULAR ...

OBJECTIVE Patient-reported measures can quickly provide assessments of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity in the office setting and do not require a laboratory test or physician examination. The goal of our study was to establish the validity of patient-reported indices compared to the C-reactive protein-based Disease Activity Score (DAS28-CRP4). METHODS Baseline and 1-year followup D...

BACKGROUND Calprotectin may be a sensitive biomarker of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity. OBJECTIVES In the current study, we investigated whether calprotectin is a better biomarker than CRP for predicting clinical activity and ultrasound parameters in patients with RA. METHODS A total of 160 patients with RA underwent clinical (swollen joint count-SJC, tender joint count-TJC, Dis...

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between serum pro-hepcidin concentration and the anemia profiles of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to estimate the pro-hepcidin could reflect the disease activity of RA. RA disease activities were measured using Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), tender/swollen joint counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP). ...

INTRODUCTION This article is part of the Focus Theme of Methods of Information in Medicine on "Methodologies, Models and Algorithms for Patients Rehabilitation". BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive inflammatory disease that causes damage to multiple joints, decline in functional status, and premature mortality. Thus, effective and frequent objective assessments are necessary...

OBJECTIVE To analyze and compare the effectiveness and drug survival in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as measured by 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) monotherapy, TNFi + leflunomide (LEF), TNFi + sulfasalazine (SSZ), TNFi + other conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheu...

The aim of our study was to investigate adrenocortical function in the context of disease activity and inflammatory status in premenopausal RA females. Adrenal glucocorticoid and androgen responses to the 1 microg ACTH 1-24 test were investigated in 23 premenopausal RA and in 15 age- and BMI-matched healthy females. Twelve RA patients were on low-dose prednisone (<8.5 mg/day). Patients with DAS...